(Newser)
–
With Congress set to pass strengthened hate crime legislation this summer, Conservative Christian leaders are ratcheting up their opposition to a bill that would extend those protections to gays and lesbians, USA Today reports. Conservative leaders say they’re worried that clergy who preach against homosexuality could end up liable for inciting hate crimes, and have called for the repeal of all hate-crime laws as “extraneous and obsolete.”

But supporters of the Matthew Sheppard Act disagree with the argument, voiced by another conservative leader, that “all violent crime is hate crime" and should therefore be treated equally. "If you burn a cross on someone's lawn, or put a swastika on a synagogue, the intent is not just vandalism," counters a policy advocate with a gay rights group. "It's to send a message to intimidate the community."

Give one example of a gay leader that is offensive. Name one women's movement leader that is offensive. Perez Hilton is not a leader of the gay movement. The gay movement is a civil rights movement and not a movement to make people gay. I appreciate your calm words but you are so incorrect. Political talk, organized action, or coming out as gay is not intolerant. Why should people be tolerant of intolerance? You are a poor torture straight person who just needs some time to think it over before you decide to give respect and civil liberties to your fellow Americans. Please tell me what takes time? I don't get it. Pardon me for "political talk"ing.

MarkFL

Jun 17, 2009 2:31 AM CDT

ack, you are reading my mind.

MarkFL

Jun 17, 2009 2:29 AM CDT

Please stop quoting the Bible as though God said it. There is no god and the Bible was written by people. It is full of errors and gibberish and it is simply not worth the dedication of your life and the sacrifice of your intellect.